Iran 'Concerned' Over Spying on Nuclear Talks

Iran expresses "serious concern" about reports of cyber-attacks on venues linked to nuclear talks with West.

Elad Benari, Canada, 13/06/15 01:14

Surveillance (illustration)

Reuters

Iran is concerned over the security of nuclear talks with six world powers after reported cyber-attacks on venues linked to the negotiations, Reuters reported Friday, citing Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Israel attempted to use a sophisticated virus to spy on nuclear talks between Iran and P5+1 by hacking into the servers of hotels where talks were being held.

Israel vehemently denied the report, with Deputy Defense Minister Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan calling the allegations “utter nonsense”. The U.S. State Department said on Thursday it was confident there had been no security breach in the talks.

Nevertheless, Switzerland and Austria have begun investigating the allegations.

Fars said the Iranian Foreign Ministry had written to the Austrian and Swiss governments expressing "serious concern".

"Tehran has also asked to be informed about the results of investigations over the issue," it said, according to Reuters.

"Iran wants all necessary measures ... taken to secure the talks, including cyber security, as soon as possible," Fars cited the ministry's letter to Austria as saying.

Both Kaspersky and U.S. security company Symantec said the virus in question shared some programming with previously discovered espionage software called Duqu, which security experts believe to have been developed by Israelis.

Friday’s expression of concern comes despite the fact that Iran said Thursday it was not surprised by the reports of the virus.